The BEST Sidewalk chalk games and drawing ideas
I’m not sure about you, but I am always on the lookout for activities that both entertain my kids and nurture their creativity while also fostering meaningful connections (and that I enjoy as well). In a world where screens dominate our lives, finding ways to engage with our kids in the great outdoors is more important than ever. That’s where sidewalk chalk comes in – a simple yet magical medium that opens the door to endless possibilities for artistic expression and outdoor fun. In this post, we will discuss ideas for sidewalk chalk games, drawings, and the best (and only) kind of chalk I buy.
WHY CHALK?
Speaking as a former teacher (and parent), there are LOTS of kids’ activities I do NOT enjoy. That is why I search so hard for simple activities that I actually enjoy. I find myself spending lots of time outside with my kids, but I get really tired of playing certain games with them. Sidewalk chalk is basically foolproof. You don’t even have to be good at art and it is still fun! Kids love it, and you get to step into that world of imagination with your kids without actually playing pretend with them.
Why Should I spend time with my kids outside?
I think everyone can agree that playing outside is good for kids (and adults!). However, due to the increases in screen time, kids aren’t outside anymore and are missing out on the benefits of playing outside. Understanding risk assessment, building immunity, decreasing stress, being able to entertain themselves, developing language, learning to problem solve, and decreasing anxiety are all skills kids miss out on when they don’t spend enough time outside. While it’s great for kids to play independently outdoors, they may need some adult support if it isn’t something they are used to doing. Parents and caregivers can come alongside kids to help them learn how to play outside. This doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be thinking through ways to play with sticks, games to play with rocks, or engaging kids in chalk games and drawings. Kids want time with their important adults and chalk is sooooo easy. Outdoor time is a great time to put away the phone, and engage with your kid(s). Kids want quality time when we aren’t distracted by our phones and the ideas I list below will help with that!
WHAT GAMES CAN I PLAY WITH CHALK?
Have you ever pulled out the chalk and didn’t know what to do with it? Me too! I got you though! Here are 10 fun games that take NO time to set up and will engage kids for hours!
The BEST chalk games:
- Hopscotch: Solid Classic. Draw a classic hopscotch grid and have fun hopping through the numbers.
- Chalk Obstacle Course: Create an obstacle course with challenges like jumping, spinning, and balancing, all drawn out with chalk. This also works great as a bike or scooter obstacle course!
- Chalk Pictionary: Draw large squares on the ground and play a game of Pictionary where kids take turns drawing and guessing what’s being drawn.
- Chalk Target Practice: Draw targets of different sizes and distances and have kids throw bean bags or balls to see who can hit the targets.
- Chalk Maze: Create a maze on the pavement and challenge kids to find their way through it.
- Chalk Twister: Draw circles of different colors close together on the ground, mimicking the Twister game board. Call out instructions for hands and feet, and watch the kids twist and turn to follow along.
- Chalk Tic-Tac-Toe: Draw a large tic-tac-toe grid and use different colors to mark Xs and Os.
- Chalk Alphabet and Numbers: Practice letters and numbers by drawing them with chalk, or make a large number line or alphabet chart for learning and games.
- Chalk jump: This is a great one for kids learning letters, numbers, shapes, etc. Draw a bunch of different numbers on the ground (not in a row), then call out a number (or roll a die for some added fun) and the kids have to jump on that number! You can do this for letter sounds, letter names, or shapes.
- Chalk Board Game: Draw a HUGE board game path on your driveway (don’t forget to write actions in the boxes like: lose a turn, move backward 2 spaces, jump forward 2 spaces etc). Your kids get to be the pawns and follow the path when you roll a die or spin a spinner. Better yet, get one of them or a friend to roll the die so you can just observe and referee.
These activities encourage creativity, physical activity, and learning, all while enjoying the outdoors.
WHAT CAN I DRAW WITH CHALK?
Drawing with chalk is a great time to practice and model a growth mindset in front of your kids. Instead of saying, “no, I’m not going to draw that because I don’t know how,” you can say, “I haven’t drawn that before, but I will give it a chance!” Kids don’t back down from things until they learn to do that from others. Even if you are not a good artist, you can model what it looks like to try new things or look up a quick picture on your phone and copy it. Believe me, drawing is NOT a strong suit of mine, yet even I can be successful at this!
The BEST chalk drawing ideas:
Here is a list of tried and true (beginner artist-friendly) things you can draw with chalk:
- Underwater Scene: Draw a vibrant underwater world complete with fish, coral reefs, and sea creatures like dolphins and octopuses. It’s really hard to mess up a fish since there are real fish that look absolutely crazy out there in the real world.
- Cityscape: This is probably one of my favorites because it is so simple. Create a bustling city skyline with skyscrapers, bridges, and bustling streets filled with cars and people. This is so easy. It’s just rectangles upon rectangles upon rectangles.
- Garden: Draw a garden full of blooming flowers, buzzing bees, fluttering butterflies, and perhaps even a friendly scarecrow. Personally, I love drawing palm trees and Cacti.
- Space Adventure: Let your imagination soar with a cosmic scene featuring planets, stars, rockets, and aliens.
- Fantasy Castle: Draw an enchanted castle complete with towers, drawbridges, and flying dragons. Triangles, cylinders, rectangles, and squares people. I live for simplicity 🙂
- Jungle Safari: Bring the jungle to life with trees, vines, and exotic animals like lions, tigers, and monkeys swinging from branch to branch. Search the internet for “how to draw _____” if you need help with this one!
- Outer Space: Create a scene set in outer space with rockets, astronauts, planets, and maybe even a UFO or two.
- Seasons: Depict each season with seasonal elements like falling leaves for autumn, snowmen for winter, flowers for spring, and sunshine for summer.
- Farmyard: Draw a cheerful farm scene with barns, tractors, cows, chickens, and pigs rolling in the mud. I’m a big fan of drawing stick legs on said farm animals.
- Superheroes: Create your own superhero characters and draw them in action-packed scenes saving the world from villains.
- Rainbow Road: Draw a colorful winding path with a rainbow of colors leading to a magical destination.
- Sports Field: Draw a soccer field, basketball court, or baseball diamond with players in action.
- Carnival: Create a festive scene with rides, games, and colorful tents.
- Outer Space Aliens: Draw funny and friendly aliens with multiple eyes, antennas, and strange features exploring Earth.
- Fairytale Land: Illustrate scenes from your favorite fairytales with castles, princesses, knights, and magical creatures.
- Dinosaur World: Bring the prehistoric era to life with roaring dinosaurs, volcanoes, and lush vegetation.
- Picnic: Draw a picnic scene with a checkered blanket, baskets of food, and playful ants trying to steal a snack.
- Ocean Adventure: Create an ocean scene with a sailboat, lighthouse, whales, and a treasure chest hidden beneath the waves.
- Dream House: Let your imagination run wild and draw your dream house with all the features and details you desire.
my favorite thing to do with chalk
My absolute favorite thing to do with chalk is to write notes to neighbors on their sidewalk or driveway. People love it! Not only does it bring joy, but it helps build positive relationships with people around you. It’s also a great way to model kindness and how to be a good neighbor. Win-Win.
Oh, and if you want a bonus activity, give your kids a bucket of water and some old paintbrushes and tell them to wash off the chalk! This is especially great on a hot summer day!
WHAT KIND OF CHALK SHOULD I BUY?
CRAYOLA. I will NOT buy another brand. Why? Great question. Other than the fact that I am a former teacher (read: snob), chalk stains clothing! I have enough on my plate that I don’t want to spend my time washing and rewashing and stain-treating my children’s clothing. Crayola does not stain clothing, comes in beautiful colors, and is not super expensive ($5 at Target!). I feel my inner teacher coming out when I say that Crayola is hands down the best (and only) brand to buy. And no, this post is not sponsored in any way by Crayola. I just feel this very deeply in my soul.
Well, that’s enough reading for now. Get outside and play!
Check out these posts for more ideas!:
- 15 Tips for Hiking with Kids
- Simple and Easy Water Play Ideas
- How to become an adventure mom
- Choosing a simpler life
- 1000 Hours Outside Challenge
This blog content was written by a human and inspired by AI.
